Gas-engine



(No Model.)

' A'. SC'HMID.

' GAS ENGINE.

UNITED STATES.

PATENT FFICE.

ALBERT SCHMID, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

GAS-ENGINE'.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 396,238, dated January 15, 1889. Application filed May 2, 1887. Serial No. 236,756. (No model.)

It is generally necessary in that class of engines in which the combustion of a gaseous vapor within the cylinder is employed as the motive power that the engine shouldfmake one or two revolutions before sufficient vapor is admitted in the-cylinder to effect in its combustion the necessary pressure on the piston; hence it is customary to store up while the engine is ruiming a supply of gas under sufficient pressure to effect the necessary initial revolutions, or else to impart such initial revolutions by hand. The latter method is necessarily impracticable in starting large engines, and the former is also open to grave objections-as, for example, when the engine is allowed to remain unused the pressure in the storage-reservoir becomes so reduced through leakage or condensation of the gases as to be totally ineffective, and, further, this method is impracticable on account of the size of storage-reservoir necessary for large engines. l

The object of the invention herein is to obviate the necessity heretofore existing' of depending upon the operation of the engine for the accumulation of sufficient pressure for the purpose of imparting its initial revolutions after a period of rest; and the invention consists in the combination of the main engine and an auxiliary pumping-engine, whereby a supply of gas under sufiicient pressure may be readily obtained for the purpose of starting the main engine, all as more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, is illustrated the relative arrangement of the elements of my invention.

The main engine l is constructed in accordance with any of the known types of gasengines, but is preferably of the construction set forth in Letters Patent No. 262,187,

granted May 3, 1887. This engine is connected by the pipe 2 to any suitable source of gas-supply and by the pipe 3 to the reservoir 4. lVithin convenient proximity to the reservoir is placed a small gas-engine, 5, of any suitable construction, but preferably of the same type as theen gine l. This small engine is connected by the branch pipe G with the main gas-supply pipe 2. To the engine 5 is connected the pump 7, having an air-inlet, S, and a connection with the gas-supply through the pipe 9. The outlet of the pump is connected by the pipe l() to the reservoir 4.

Then it is desired to use the main engine l, the small engine 5 is first started, so that by the operation of the pump a supply of fluid-e.. g., air or gas or a mixture of air and gas-is stored in the reservoir 4 under sulIicient pressure to impart the initial revolution or impulse to the main engine. As the sole function of the engine 5 is to operate the pump 7, it can be made q uitesmall, and can therefore be easily started by hand or otherwise. As soon as the necessary pressure has been attained in the reservoir, the valve Il in the pipe is opened, allowing the :liuid in the reservoir to flow into and exert its pressure within the cylinder of the main engine. By means of the auxiliary pumping-engine any desired volume and pressure of liuid may be obtained for the purpose of starting the main engine at any time.

If desired, the pumping-engine may be operated after the main engine has been started to store up sufficient fluid-pressure in the reservoir to start the small engine, which can be connected by a pipe, l2, to the reservoir; and, further, fluid-pressure may be stored in the reservoir by the main engine while in operation, in which case the pumping-en gine will be required for the purpose of restoring the pressure lost through leakage or condensation. l

I claim herein as my invention 1. The combination of a main gas-engine '95 with a pum pin g-engine provided with gas and air supply ports and having a suitable connect-ion with the explosion-chamber of the main engine, whereby a sufcient amount of combined gas and air may be forced into the IOC,

Io ervoir to effect on its admission into and explosion in the chambers of the main and pumping engines one or more revolutions thereof, substantially as set forth.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

ALBERT SCHMID.

VitHeSSeS:

DARWIN S. NVoLooTT, F. X. BARR. 

